Entry requirements

120 credits. Electromagnetism. Mathematical methods of physics.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

- explain how the four Maxwell equations are related to the basic experimental laws (Coulombs law, Ampères law, Faradays law) of electromagnetism

- explain and derive the multipole expansion of the electrostatic field up to the quadrupole term, and the magnetostatic field up to the dipole term

- explain and derive the concepts of bound charges and magnetisation currents in polarized and magetized bodies, respectively

- formulate potential problems within electrostatics, magnetostatics and stationary current distributions in linear, isotropic media, and also solve such problems in simple geometries using separation of variables or the method of images

- define and derive expressions for the energy both for the electrostatic and magnetostatic fields, and derive Poyntings theorem from Maxwells equations and interpret the terms in the theorem physically

- calculate forces in electrostatic and magnetostatic systems from a knowledge of the energy of the system

- describe and make calculations of plane electromagnetic waves in homogeneous media, including reflexion and refraction of such waves in plane boundaries between homogeneous media

- derive the electric dipole radiation field from the retarded vector potential, and apply the result in order to find the radiation diagram for simple antennas

Content

Meaning of circulation density and source density for a vector field (Helmholtz theorem). Electrostatic fields. Electrostatic energy. Multipole expansion. Dielectrics. Potential theory (uniqueness theorem, electrical images, separation of variables). Stationary current distributions. Magnetostatic fields. Magnetostatic potential problems. Faradays law of induction. Magnetostatic energy. Magnetism in matter. Maxwells equations. Boundary conditions. Gauge transformations. Maxwells stress tensor. Poyntings theorem. Wave equation: plane waves, reflection and refraction. Field penetration in conducting media. Generation of electromagnetic radiation (inhomogeneous wave equation, retarded potentials). Multipole expansion of the radiation field. Antennas.

Instruction

Lectures and lessons.

Assessment

Written examination at the end of the course.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.